Chrysanthemum plant named Fascination

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Fascination having flat capitulum form and spoon tipped daisy type; lavender ray floret color; diameter of 1&#34; to 2.5&#34; across face of flower; uniform eight week flowering response using photoperiodic control and when grown in a 6&#34; pot with its center bud removed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Fascination.

Fascination is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars with novelty flowerforms, early response, and having the ability to be grown in year aroundprograms. Such traits in combination were not present or neededimprovement in previously available commercial cultivars.

Fascination was originated from a hybridization made in a controlledbreeding program by Leonard H. Shoesmith in Westfield, Woking, GreatBritain in 1979. The male and female parents are unknown at this time.

Fascination was discovered and selected as one flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated parentage by or under the supervision ofLeonard H. Shoesmith in November of 1979 in a controlled environment inWest Chicago, Ill., and given the code #P9-1215-PS.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Fascination was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inFebruary of 1980 in a controlled environment in West Chicago, Ill. by atechnician working under formulations established and supervised byLeonard H. Shoesmith. Horticultural examination of selected unitsinitiated February of 1980 has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Fascination are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Fascination has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in West Chicago, Ill. and Parrish, Fla. under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Fascination which in combination distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form.

(2) Spoon tipped daisy type under cool temperatures, changing to a moreflat petalled daisy under high temperature.

(3) Ray floret color is medium lavender at cool temperatures, but fadesto a very light lavender at extremely high temperatures.

(4) Diameter across face of flower is 1" to 2.5".

(5) Uniform 8 week flowering response using photoperiodic control, whengrown in a 6" pot with its center bud removed.

(6) Height is 12" to 18" above edge of a 6" pot; height is dependent ontime of bud initiation and temperature.

Of the many commercial cutivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Fascination is Fantasy. In comparison toFantasy, Fascination has a lighter color, a more quilled flower type,and is less sensitive to temperature extremes, both high and low. Theflower form and plant habit are similar to those same characteristics ofFantasy.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Fascination. The photograph is in black andwhite except for a cluster of flowers which represent the true flowercolor of Fascination.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined atapproximately 12:00 noon on May 2, 1985 under inflorescent light atBradenton, Fla.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Fascination.

Commercial.--Pot mum with center bud removed.

I. INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Spoon tipped, single.

Diameter across face.--1" to 2.5".

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Lavender.

Color (upper surface).--77B-C; spoon tip 77B.

Color (under surface).--77B-C.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--Yellow.

Color (immature)--Yellow.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present in disc florets only; insignificant.

Gynoecium.--One per both ray and disc floret.

II. PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--12" to 18" above the edge of a 6" pot.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed, margin repand.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed Fascination, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized by its flat capitulum form and spoon tipped daisy type;lavender ray floret color; diameter of 1" to 2.5" across face of flower;uniform eight week flowering response using photoperiodic control andwhen grown in a 6" pot with its center bud removed.